Production and management of 'cavendish' banana (Musa acuminata AAA group) at Lapanday Foods Corporation

Date

6-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Horticulture

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Bong M. Salazar

Abstract

The major farm practice on the production and management of export-quality 'Cavendish' banana was conducted in Lapanday Foods Corporation (LFC) in Davao del Norte from June to July 2015. The practicum focused on field operations at Farmingtown Plantation Operation (FPO) in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, and on various studies and innovations conducted by the Research and Development-Lapanday Plantation Office at Mandug, Davao City. These studies dealt with improvement in tissue culture protocols and on screening of several banana varieties for resistance to Black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt and Banana Bunchy Top Virus. FPO accounts for 3.89% (240 ha) of the total 'Cavendish' banana production area of LFC. It employs intensive farming practices which is typical of large agricultural companies in Davao. Bananas are planted following the double hedge row system (2.4 m x 2.1 m x 1.9 m), with a planting density of 2,194 plants per hectare. Plants were rainfed and supplied with nutrients based on soil analysis. Weeds were managed by herbicide application while pests and diseases were controlled by chemical means. Various special practices were also rigorously performed from emergence of inflorescence to harvesting, to ensure production of quality bananas. These include guying, bud injection, bunch spray, field deflowering, defingering, fruit obstacle removal, leaf pruning and bagging. These management practices resulted to a total production volume of 32.75 mt ha-1. Furthermore, postharvest operations of ?Cavendish? banana involve weighing and calibrating, washing, sorting, packaging, storage, transportation and marketing. Of special note is the packaging and postharvest treatment of 'Cavendish' bananas which depend on the intended market. In 2015, the total cost of production for the 240-ha banana production area was PhP46,518,658.00. This amount covered expenses for materials, labor, and other miscellaneous items. Gross revenue from the harvested bananas which totaled 7,859.48 metric tons (581,848 boxes) amounted to PhP 164,081,361.60. This gave a net return of PhP 117,562,703.00 (or PhP 489,844.60/ha), and a return on investment of 3.52. The cost to produce a kilogram of 'Cavendish' banana was, therefore, PhP 0.28.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993 2016 A3 /S68

Document Type

Thesis

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